frustrated in ohio

ok, i know, i know, i know what i will hear.....time is the answer. problem is this. there are times when i think i am doing ok. playing about 9 months or so now. late 40's. late to the guitar game. anyway, i strum songs ok but then sometimes it just sounds like crap. no better way to describe it. my simple chord changes get muted or i suddenly struggle with them. the easiest chords suddenly become foreign to my fretting hand...my strumming patterns all of a sudden sound like a retarded chimp trying to pound open a coconut. just frustrated i guess. i am in lessons. just recently started the finger picking book after completing the rhythm style book. doing ok in that but i went to play some songs off of chordie and wow! what is this thing in my lap??? with the funny shape and wires??

Re: frustrated in ohio

You'll get there.

Pick a song that's three or four chords and straight forward, and play it. Sing too.

I've been playing about seven or eight years now. I don't remember exactly and it doesn't matter anyhow because the point is some days are good days and some days are not so good days. I don't think that ever goes away.

My guess is you've got other stuff on your mind. Hard not to have in the 40's. Kids. Pay for school. Pay your taxes. Will I make rent this month? The car needs a muffler. Was I supposed to pick Donna up after practice or was she catching a ride with Janet? All that stuff. Try and find a time when you can relax your mind before you pick up your ax. It'll help.

And at nine months, your supposed to stink at it. It starts to all come together at about a year so long as you keep in mind the difference between playing and practicing. After two years, you get people asking you to bring your guitar to the campfire with you. You get someone ask you, "Oh! Do you play?" and instead of saying, "I try", you're gonna say, "Yeah. I do." That feels good. It gets better. You'll get better.

In the meantime, grab a cup of herbal tea or if you are so inclined a refreshing adult beverage, chill out and smile a moment. THEN pick up the guitar. You'll hear the difference.

"Forced means you're painting a train blue." - Jets60"If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome!" - Mekidsmom"Don't ever apologize for what you have worked hard for." - Pete BensonOfficial recipient of B chord amnesty.

Re: frustrated in ohio

Yep, we have good days and bad days, no matter what level we are at. Some days my guitars sound bad to me and the next day they will sound good for some strange reason. Some days I play better than others. Some days I play a few songs I have been struggling with and say Wow, I sound better. If you play a lot, meaning for long periods of time many times a day, try to hang it up for a day or two and then jump back in. You will notice the difference. There must be a term for this strange phenomenon. Blew that word.

You can see all my video covers on http://www.youtube.com/bensonp1000I have finally found happiness in my life. Guitars, singing, beer and camping. And they all intertwine wonderfully.

Re: frustrated in ohio

Same here.I`ve been playing for 30 years.It all depends on your mood,how you feel (tired,sick).Some days my playing is flawless and some I sound awful.Even on songs I`ve played forever.It happens all the time.It will happen again,I`m sure

Re: frustrated in ohio

Re: frustrated in ohio

Yep, just like to add that you're not alone on this one.A friend of mine described it as a mismatch between our ability to play and how much we understand.At points you hands and brain are in sync and everything is fine, and then your brain starts racing ahead and understand stuff and lo and behold, you perceive that you are playing badly. When, in fact, it's your brain racing ahead of the game.

Re: frustrated in ohio

We feel your pain - or have felt it at some point. I find when it seems to happen to me, there's some huge thing that is about to "click" and then I'll be better... for a while, till I stink again and then something else clicks. Guitar is a wonderful thing, because we're always learning. You'll never get bored unless you never continue to push yourself to improve. Keep on practicing and playing and remember to enjoy it. If you're not enjoying it, then put it down for a couple days. Sometimes, that's the thing that makes it all click.

Amy

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

Re: frustrated in ohio

i still enjoy the heck out of the guitar and it is my stress reliever. hard to think about other stuff while trying to play well. i felt a lot better recently when one of the performers i went to see screwed up. 99% of the audience didn't even notice. i just heard a note that i knew was out of place. i looked up and he was kinda laughing/smiling at the other performer. like an oops moment. i thought, heck he screws up on stage?!?! laugh it off, move on, no one knows but you and maybe one or two listeners. finger style is easy and difficult all at the same time. slow patterns sound blah. start speeding up....boing!!! there's that retarded chimp showing up again. someday. someday soon(i hope). it's all good. thanks all. keep playing

Re: frustrated in ohio

When my daughter practices her piano she gets very upset with herself making a mistake. I tell her that she's so impressive because she gets her practice songs down in just 40 or 50 times through. I have to do a passage a few hundred times before I feel comfortable with it, and as far as a whole song maybe even 1,000 times to make it something that I feel like it's being done well. Professionals probably do songs many thousands of times before it is concert ready.

- Zurf

"Forced means you're painting a train blue." - Jets60"If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome!" - Mekidsmom"Don't ever apologize for what you have worked hard for." - Pete BensonOfficial recipient of B chord amnesty.